Life-preserving garment.



M. P. WHIDDEN.

LIFE PRESERVING GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 2a, 1914,

Patented Mar..2

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTG-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

,M. P. WHIDDEN.

LIFE PRESERVING GARMENT.

4PPL10AT10N FILED 00:0. 28, 1914.

1,129,932,, Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

"HE NORRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTO-LlTHO-. WASHINGTON. D. C.

MAMIE P. WHIDDEN, OF FORT MYERS, FLORIDA.

from, preventing undue reduction in the temperature or freezing of the body, or parts thereof, which frequently causes illness or death.

An important object of the invention is to provide a life saving garment of the above mentioned character adapted to fit over the clothes of the wearer, and which may be put'on in a convenient and expeditious manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to protect the head of the wearer from the sun, the same also serving to suspend the head, when the wearer is floating upon the back.

A further object of theinvention is to provide simple and strong means to detachably connect the hood or head-receiving portion of the apparel with the body portion thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same in use, Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe hood or head covering member removed, Fig; 3 is a side elevation of the same, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus in use, with the hood or head covering member removed, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus, showing the neck-band distended, Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same, showing the neckband contracted, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

LIFE-PRESERVING' GARMENT.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed October 28, 1914. Serial No. 869,022.

neck-band contracted, and, Fig. 8 is a similarvicw 0f the neck-band distended.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the body-receiving portion of the apparatus or garment, which is formed of impermeable or substantially impermeable flexible material, such as rubberized silk, although any other suitable material may be employed. This body-receiving portion carries depending legreceiving portions 11, preferably slightly split at their lower ends, as shown at 12. Attached to the lower ends of these leg-receiving portions are feet-receiving portions 13. Attached to the upper end of the body-receiving portion 10 are arm-receiving portions 14. The arm-receiving portions and the feet-receiving portions areof course closed at their ends. 'It is thus seen that I provide an impermeable onepiece garment, whereby the water is effectually excluded from the person of the wearer. The body-receiving portion 10 is opened at the top, such 0 ening being formed by an expansible an contractible neck-band 15, shown more clearly in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. This neck-band 15 is suitably large when expanded, being larger than the waist of the wearer, enabling the wearer to enter the garment solely through this opening. This garment is made amply full whereby the wearer may thoroughly protect himself against cold,-by wearing an overcoat and other apparel.

Means are provided to contract the neckband whereby the same will fit around the neck or upon the shoulders of the wearer, preventing the body-receiving portion from sagging or dropping down from the shoulders. This is accomplished by folding the back and front of the body-receiving portion 10 along longitudinallines 16 and 17. In Figs. 5 and 8, the neck-band 15 is shown as expanded, while in Figs. 6 and 7, the same is shown contracted and held in this position by detachable ball and socket catches or clips 18, such as ordinarily used upon kid gloves, the ball and socket members being attached to suitable portions of the bodypoints. with arm-reeeiving portions 20,

, through which the arm-receiving portions thereof.

' eyes andnoseof the wearer, whereby suit- Mare passed This hood is preferablyfur- I it th r detaehably connected with the body 7 "receiving. portion 10 by detachable ball and socketcatches, the ball elements 22 thereof being preferably secured to the body-receiving portion 10, while the socket elements 23 are preferably attached to the inner surface of the hood 19, adjacent the lower end I Th'ehoodlQ is provided in its tront or face with an opening2 for the able ventilation is provided. It is thus apparent that the-lower portion of the hood 19 I extends'over the shoulders ,below the arm pits, thus thoroughly over-lapping the neck- I band, fto'exclude the water at this point.

Togproteet the wearer from the heat of the sun, I provide a head-shade or umbrella, in the form of; a relatively flat approximately horizontal cylindrical bag or casing 25, 'formed of impermeable material, such as rubberized silk, the same being adapted to be inflated with air, and having a valve 26 to allow of such inflating and to retain the air therein, as shown. The inflatable head-shade 25 is preferably secured directly upon the upper end of the hood, whereby whenthe same is inflated it will be retained in the horizontal position. "When the wearer such as an overcoat or the like.

is in the .upright position in the water, this head-shade will protect the head from the rays of light from the sun, preventing sun strokes or thelike. When'the wearer is inclined or floating upon the back, it is obvious that this inflated head-shade will serve as meansto suspend the head, thus preventing drowning. I I

In the use of the apparatus or garment, the wearer may have'on such apparel as will be necessary to keep him suitably warm, He enters the garment through the expanded neckband 15, his arms and legs extending into the. arm and leg-receiving portions of the same. The neck-band is then contracted i and. secured in such position. The hood 19 is then placed over the head and the armreceiving portions 14 pass through the openings 20, whereby the hood is securely fastened to the body-receiving portion 10. The hood is further connected with the body-reoeiving portion by the ball and socket catches. The head-shade 25 is now inflated, thus providing effectual means for preventing the rays of light directly striking the head, the heat therefrom being absorbed by the air within this head-shade, and also to suspend the head if the wearer is floating upon the back.

An ordinary life preserver 27 is placed around the waist ofthe wearer exteriorly of the body-receiving portion 10 of the garment, and serves to suspend him in the water. I I It is obvious that my garment may be .used by men, women, or children, and may be made in various sizes. I do not wish to restrict myself to any particular manner of cutting the portions of the one-piece garment, or securing or sewing the same together, as the same may be accomplished in different ways, so long as a garment is produced which possesses the advantages of my construction.

It it to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is tobe taken asa preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A life saving garment, comprising a body receiving portion formed of substantially impermeable material and adapted to extend up to and about the neck of the wearer a -nd embodying arm and leg-receiving portions; in combination with a hood formed of substantially impermeablematerial and provided with a head receiving portion having a peep opening formed upon the forward side thereof, decreasing in diametenupwardly and increasing in diameter downwardly to provide a lower shoulder receiving portion adapted to overlap the body receiving portion and having arm-receiving openings with their lower sides permanently closed; means. detachably connecting the shoulder receiving portion and the body re- 7 ceiving portion between the arm-receiving openings; and an inflatable head shade attached to the upper reduced end of the hood and extending laterally therebeyond in spaced relation thereto for a substantial distance.

2. In a life saving garment, a hoodformed of substantiallyimpermeable material and Wardly to provide a lower shoulder receivprovided with a head receiving portion having laterally therebeyond in spaced relation 10 ing a peep opening formed upon the forthereto for a substantial distance.

Ward side thereof, decreasing in diameter In testimony whereof I aflix my signaupwardly and increasing in diameter doWnture in presence of two Witnesses.

ing portion having arm receiving openings MAMIE W'HIDDEN' with their lower sides permanently closed; Witnesses: i and an inflatable head shade attached to the G. A. BRUMMETT, upper reduced end of the hood and extend- CHAS. M. ATKINSON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U. 

